GEZI PROTESTS – THE ANNIVERSARY PART III – THE WRITING ON THE WALL

The Gezi Protests were a revolution filled with love and laughter. Sure there was anger but there was humour to balance the real danger, fear and desperation of a people who only wanted to be free to express the beauty that lived inside them. Gezi gave them a chance to shine among the tear gas, police brutality and a leader who had deserted them. Here are but a few magic moments of the intelligence and satire that still remains.

The news of the protests continued to be suppressed and signs like these were everywhere.

Reminders that twitter was under attack too.

Even when wifi was compromised news still spread

The police base was down the hill from Taksim around The Dolmabache Palace. Toma (water cannon tanks) stood waiting to attack. Buses parked there to be used as holding cells for arrested protestors and the people named the area Mordor. Some street signs had the name ‘Dolmabache’ crossed off and renamed ‘Mordor’.

One of the main ways of relieving the pain of tear gas in the eyes was lemon juice.

Many people worked during the day in their white collar jobs and at clocking off time they would change their shirts for combat gear for another night of ducking rubber bullets and breathing in teargas. This sign says it all ‘Person by day, Clark Kent by night’.

A classroom message to the teacher that they’ve all gone off to protest

A message to the police. “We are the generation who grew up playing Grand Theft Auto”.